Sectional casing for fluid heaters



Nov. 7, 1950 B. E. MusTEE SECTIONAL CASING FOR FLUID HEATERS 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed June 14, 1944 Nov. 7, 1950 B. E. MUsTl-:E

sEcTIoNAL cAsING FOR FLUID HEATERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June l4, 1944 25M INVENTOR M um Patented Nov. 7, 19,50

l SECTIONAL CASING FOR FLUID HEATERSl Bernard E. Mustee, Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to Emil L. Mustee, Cleveland, Ohio Application June 14, 1944, Serial No'. 540,172

My invention relates to heat interchangersin general, and `fluid heaters in particular.v

An object' of my invention is to provide an insulated uid heater having removable sides.

'2 claims.` (enzo- 4) 2 may pass. An extreme lip 3| of the top part I3 is preferably formed into a short length of circular perpendicular wall.

The bottom end member I4 is best shown in Another object of my invention is the provision 6 Figure 3 in a cross-sectional view. It is noted of an insulated Iluid heaterhaving rigid rib memfrom the Figure 3 that the bottom end member bers andremovable side panels as side members i4 is also a rigid member, preferably stamped or with protecting triple gas seal joints between the cast, and having one hole for a fuel supply line panels and ribs and with overlapping gas seal to pass therethrough. As shown in the drawings, joints between the sidemembers and end mem- 10 the bottom part I4 is a dish-shaped member with bers. edges formed of a large llet having a short end Another object of my invention is the provision lip 32 of parallel circular form. Located circumof van. insulated fluid heater simplyv constructed ferentially about the bottom part. I4 .on the inner to provide for an easily accessible interior` and side ofthe sloping orfllleted portion thereof, are economy of construction by the provision of re!- ra plurality of rest members 30 extending inwardly movably mounted snap-,in side panels. y far enough to form rest ledges for the side panels Other objects and, a'fuller understanding of I I. my invention may be had by referring .tothe fol- The two rib members I2 are of rigid construclowing description and claims, taken in conjunction and are illustrated in the drawing as being tion with the accompanying drawing, in which: secured to the top member I3 and to the bottom Figure 1 is a perspectiveview of my uid heater member I4 in any suitable manner such as by housing as seen from theV rib side having a lighter screws I'I.- The ribs `I2 may be of any suitable door therein; width, but are preferably kept relatively narrow Figure 2 is a top view of my fluid heater housing to provide l for accessibility of the coil 26 and showing the gas exhaust and coil outlet openings; heating unit 21. Because the ribs I2 are secured Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken to the end members I3 and I4, a rigid serviceable along the line 3 3 of Figure 2, and showing the frame-work for the completed heater housing is arrangementv of heating unit, and coil in relation obtained. to my housing unit; An opening 33 is provided in one of the ribs I2 Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along 30 to permit insertion of a lighter flame, A door I8 the line 4-4 of Figure 3 to show the interlocking is provided to close the opening 33 as illustrated seal between the side members Aof myy housing unit; in Figure 5, and in cross-section in Figure 7. The

Figure 5 is a longitudinal crossfsectional View door I8 is preferably made with a heel part I9 showing the construction Vof the lighter door and extending past the pivot point of the door. The spring, the side coil port, and the arrangement 35 door is engaged'by a spring member 2G, shown of outlet ports at the top; in Figure 5, which will hold the door in an open Figure 6 is a perspective view of my fluid heater or closed position as is desired. `An opening 2I is housingas seenfrom a panel side thus 4affording provided in theother of the ribs `I2 to permit ena comparison between panel width and Qthe rib try of the vfluid coil 25. The ribs I2 are preferably width of Figure 1; and 40 of a channel construction to permit reduction of Figure 7 isa cross-sectional view'I taken along cost and decrease in weight as well as providing the line 'I-'I Vof .Figure 5, showingV the construca space for insulation. Insulation material .is tionv of the lighter y.door `and inlet port, respecpreferably held within the rib space by a cap 34. tively, on the rib members. f Side panels I I may be constructed of thin With reference to the figures yof the drawing, sheet metal or other suitable resilient material I illustrate a type of iluid heater ,housing I0 and comprise an inner part 22, and an outer part which conformsvto my invention enclosing a heatf 23 bound together at the sidesl thereof by lips 24 ing unit 21 anda fluid coil 2 6, having removably and enclose a space therebetween as shown in Y attached side panels II, rib membersrIZ, top end Figures 4 and '7 of the` drawing. The parts 22 member I3, and bottom end member I4. 50 and 23 are rolled or formed into a semi-circular As best seenrin Figures 3 and 5, the top end shape fas illustrated in the drawing. The lips 24 member [3 is a dishshaped vrigid member, pref`v Aof the panelr II are constructed in a Z form to t erably stamped or cast, and having an exhaust the sides of theribs I2. The space enclosedV by port I5 for burned gases, `and a coil outlet openthe sides 22 and 23 of the panels I I may be filled ing I6v through which the fluid carrying coil' :26 55 with aninsulation material 35 andthe endsof of the heater housing.

the panel closed by a crescent member 25 to render the panels IIresistant to the passage of heat .therethrough To enclose the coil 26 and the burner 2i, and to prevent loss of heat energy by convection and conduction, the side panels I I are used to ll the openings between theA ribs I2. Because the lside panels II are constructed of a resilient material in a semi-circular form vvithV edges adapted to engage the ribs I2, the panels are insertable'within the opening between the ribs I2 by constraining the panel Il to a semi-circular form of a smaller radius than its natural form.. After in!Y sertion, the panel is allowed vto spring back 1Vor Ysnap in and close the opening with the edges of 'l the panel engaging the rib members I2. Y

In orderto insert the panel II in place after -l constraining, the panel is inserted upwardly inside'the parallel lip 3| of the top part`I3'far i enough that the bottom of the panel I I Will clear thelip part 32 of the bottom part Iii. V- The bottom part of the panel is then moved inwardly towards the burner El until the outerpart-23 of the panelY II is inside the radius of the lip 320i the` bottom part I4. The entire panel isY then moved downwardly until it rests upon the rest member 3e Within the bottom part I4; The panel' is next relieved of the compressing forcewhich constrains the,V lip partsy 24 of the panel II` towards one another in order that the lips v24 might spring-back and eng-age the edge of the rib members I2.M As is ybest shown in Figure 4, the lip part-2 contactsthefribimember I2 in threeplaces t. i'eby producing a relatively gas- Y tightv joint '-betweenthepanel I lv'- Vand Vthe rib lateral vertical walls meeting in acute angular v relationship and defining a first panel retaining notch, said second radial and second lateral vertical walls meeting in acute angular relationship and deiining a second panel retaining notch, said resilient lpanel vhaving first and second lateral edges With means thereon complementarily fit-` tingv ingas-seal engagement with said first and second panel Vretaining notches respectively and With'the inneredge of theiirst'and'second radially extendingr vertical walls, said 'resilient panel beingl wider than thev distance between said first and` second' panel retaining notches when the so'Y member I2.'. Also, because the panels'II are longer thanV the distance between the Ytop .parts I3 and the'bottornV part i4, an overlapping is providedy which serves as avery efficient gas seal.

My heater housing maybe used to enclose any suitable heateiichanger mechanism suchas the fluidfcarrying coil" 25 and the heating element 27. The burner or heating element 27 'is located at th-e lower end of the heater housing, as illustrated in Figure 5, and is supplied by means of a fuel pipe 28 passing through the opening of the bottom part iti. Gases resulting from combustion of fuel are carried from the face of the'burner or heating element ZI upward through theheater housing I@ vand out through'the eX- haust port I5. The Yfluid coil 26 is connected to' an outside main through the openings ZI and- I whereby cold Watermay enter" at the bottom of the heater housing',`bewarmed byl thefrising gases ofV combustion, 'andV4 exit `through the top Whenmy heaterv housing is constructed as de-Y scribed, the` outside'will present a'smooth sym-l panel is in an inoperative position, whereby said Y firstrand second lateral redges ofthe'panel Will bev tightly pressed intoen'gagment with said first and second retaining notchesvvhen the panel is in an operative position.V y Y l 2. A housing unit for a heater, comprising a first vessel-shaped end part having an edge lip with an internal annular wall surface, a second vessel-shaped end,` part having an edge llip withan internal 'annular wall'surface, said'fir'stV and second vessel-shapedA end parts'being oppositely facing and similarly` dimensioned, rigid rib means rigidly connecting corresponding peripheral yportions of saidend partsfto space and support the end parts from one another, said end partsand rib means comprising la, frame for said housing unit and defining at least an opening into said housing, said edge lip of the firstand second spaced end parts defining one dimension of said opening and said rib means defining another dimension of said opening, at least a resilient panel membervhaving a face surface to close the'opening, .said 'face surfacebeinglonger than the dimension of lsaid opening between said flrstand second spaced end parts, said internalannular l wall surfacesv of said first and second vessel-V shaped end parts defining spaced annular enclos- 1 ing `wall portions, said face surface' of Ythe re-V silient panel member being adaptedto bridge between said internal annular wall surfaces to close said opening into said housing, said rib means'.

i having first Vand'se'cond annularly'spaced radially extending'vertical Wallslan'd first and secondan-` metrical appearance, jand fthe inside v-vvill-be f smooth and-'evenY all around .withno' projecting surfaces to producelocal heatingoftheY side Wall.V v

Although I have described my invention with a kcertain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure has been made only by Way ofV example and that numerous changes in' the details of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts` may be resorted towithout departing fror'nthe spirit and the scope ofthe invention as hereinafter claimed.'

VI claim asmy invention;A w Y Y l. A Vhousing unit for a heater, comprisingoppositely facing similarly dimensioned'endlp'arts,y

rigidl rib means vrigidly connectingV correspondving peripheral portions of said end parts to space nularly spaced laterally extending vertical Walls,

said annularly'spaced laterally' extending walls ofi theribmeans defining bridging continuations ofV the annular ,enclosing Wall portions defined by said internal annular wall surfaces of'. the end.

parts, said first-radial andiirst .lateral vertical walls meeting inacute vangular'relationship and defining a first panelretaining notch, said second radial.' and second lateral Walls meeting in acute angular relationship andjdeiining a second panel retaining notch, said resilient panel having firstandsecond lateralfedges Y with Ymeans I thereon -complernentarily fittingV in gas-seal engagement"v with said Yfirstand second panel re- Y 'taining-'notches respectively, and with the inner edge of the `first and second radially extending 'vertical Walls, said resilient panel being wider than 'theV Ydistance'between said first and second panel retaining notches when the panel is in an inoperative position, whereby said rst and second lateral edges of the panel will be tightly pressed into engagement with said rst and second retaining notches When the panel is in an operative position and lay flush against the internal surfaces around said opening.

BERNARD E. MUSTEE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Merryweather May 24, 1932 Number Number Morrow Mar. 13, 1945 

